Sore knee nets Pagan a break

By Rick Eymer / Special to MLB.com

SAN FRANCISCO -- Outfielder Angel Pagan, who is nursing a sore knee, and third baseman Pablo Sandoval were each given a planned day off on Wednesday night as the Giants took the opportunity to get Juan Perez and Joaquin Arias some playing time in the series finale against the Padres.

"Arias and Perez need occasional playing time if they're going to help us off the bench," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said.

Arias has just three hits in his last 28 at-bats and is hitless in his last 13. This was his 11th start of the year.

Perez opened the season 0-for-10 before getting his first hit of the season on Tuesday night.

Pagan is on a five-game hitting streak after hitting a home run in the first inning on Tuesday. He has 11 multihit games, good for third in the National League.

Sandoval has been struggling most of the year, hitting .177 with two homers and six RBIs.

Giants think Cain will return to mound Monday

SAN FRANCISCO -- Giants manager Bruce Bochy scanned the field during Wednesday night's warmups to make sure right-hander Matt Cain wasn't trying to play catch somewhere.

Cain, who was scratched from Tuesday night's start after cutting his right index finger, was told to take a couple of days off from playing catch to allow the wound to heal.

"We'll see about him when we get to Atlanta," said Bochy.

Bochy said the plan is to have Cain make his next start, Monday in Pittsburgh. If the finger remains an issue, Yusmeiro Petit, who filled in on Tuesday, can make another start in his stead.

Crawford meets with Thompkins' college class

SAN FRANCISCO -- Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford found himself in the Giants dugout, surrounded by 15 students from the Dominican University's Sports Writing for Television class taught by national broadcaster Barry Thompkins.

Thompkins brought the group to watch Giants batting practice before Tuesday night's game against the San Diego Padres, and Crawford took some questions.

Thompkins, who is married to former San Francisco Chronicle sportswriter Joan Ryan, said he has changed the direction of the course and will rename it Storytelling for Broadcasting in the next go-around.

A few of the students also corralled Comcast's Amy Gutierrez for an informal discussion in the dugout.

Rick Eymer is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.